Diluted loss per share of $0.28 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.06 in 2016

Average store inventories 15 percent lower than last year's second quarter

Net loss for the second quarter was $13.0 million or $0.28 per diluted share compared to net income of $3.0 million or $0.06 per diluted share in 2016. For the first six months of 2017, net loss was $9.3 million or $0.20 per diluted share compared to net income of $16.3 million or $0.35 per diluted share in the same period in 2016.

"Our second quarter sales trends improved from the first quarter and were strongest in July as we more aggressively priced our clearance merchandise," said Hunt Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer. "We are very pleased with the progress we made on our inventory management initiatives that resulted in 15 percent lower average store inventories at the end of the quarter. It is important that our inventories are in a very good position and well-balanced going into the fall season."

"We will continue to operate our business with lean store inventories and tight expense control this fall while putting into place new merchandising and marketing strategies that include the launch of a new advertising campaign in September. We expect our lower inventories will give us better margins from lower markdowns primarily in the fourth quarter."

SalesTotal sales for the second quarter of 2017 decreased 2.7 percent to $311.0 million, while comparable store sales decreased 5.0 percent. Ecommerce sales were up 41 percent over last year's second quarter. For the first six months of 2017, total sales decreased 4.0 percent to $648.4 million, while comparable store sales decreased 6.4 percent.

Gross ProfitGross profit for the second quarter of 2017 was $64.7 million or 20.8 percent of sales compared to $89.4 million or 28.0 percent of sales in 2016. Gross profit for the first six months of 2017 was $160.2 million or 24.7 percent of sales compared to $198.3 million or 29.4 percent of sales in 2016. The lower gross profit rate for both periods reflects much higher markdowns and to a lesser extent higher occupancy costs that negatively leverage on lower sales.

Selling, General and Administrative ExpensesSelling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2017 were $86.2 million compared to $83.8 million in 2016. SG&A expenses for the first six months of 2017 were $171.7 million compared to $170.3 million in 2016. The increase in SG&A expenses for both periods is primarily the result of higher operating expenses from new stores that were mostly offset by operating savings.

Balance SheetInventories were $246 million at the end of the second quarter of 2017 compared to $280 million at the same time last year. Average inventories per store were down 15 percent to last year.

Borrowings under our credit facilities were $170.6 million at the end of the second quarter of 2017 compared to $167.4 million at the end of the second quarter last year. Unused availability at the end of the second quarter was $49.5 million.

Cash FlowsCash provided by operating activities was $24.9 million for the first six months of 2017 compared to $52.6 million for the first six months of 2016.

Capital expenditures totaled $11.8 million for the first six months of 2017 compared to $23.9 million for the first six months of 2016.

Store ActivityWe had 292 stores at the end of the second quarter compared to 283 at the end of the second quarter last year. No stores were opened or closed during the second quarter. We are now expecting to open a total of 10 new stores and close six stores in 2017.

Filing of Form 10-QReported results are preliminary and not final until the filing of our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 29, 2017 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and therefore remain subject to adjustment.

Conference CallA conference call for investment analysts to discuss the Company's second quarter 2017 results will be held at 4:30 p.m. ET on August 16, 2017. The call may be heard on the investor relations portion of the Company's website at http://ir.steinmart.com. A replay of the conference call will be available on the website through August 31, 2017.

Investor PresentationStein Mart's second quarter 2017 investor presentation has been posted to the investor relations portion of the Company's website at http://ir.steinmart.com.

About Stein Mart Stein Mart, Inc. is a national specialty and off-price retailer offering designer and name-brand fashion apparel, home décor, accessories and shoes at everyday discount prices. Stein Mart provides real value that customers will love every day both in stores and online. The Company currently operates 292 stores across 31 states. For more information, please visit www.steinmart.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsExcept for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release may be forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied will not be realized. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Stein Mart's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted or expected results. Those risks include, without limitation: consumer sensitivity to economic conditions, competition in the retail industry, changes in fashion trends and consumer preferences, ability to implement our strategic plans to sustain profitable growth, effectiveness of advertising and marketing, capital availability and debt levels, dividend impact on stock price, ability to negotiate acceptable lease terms with current and potential landlords, ability to successfully implement strategies to exit under-performing stores, extreme and/or unseasonable weather conditions, adequate sources of merchandise at acceptable prices, dependence on certain key personnel and ability to attract and retain qualified employees, impacts of seasonality, increases in the cost of compensation and employee benefits, disruption of the Company's distribution process, dependence on imported merchandise, information technology failures, data security breaches, single supplier for shoe department, single provider for ecommerce website, acts of terrorism, ability to adapt to new regulatory compliance and disclosure obligations, material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's filings with the SEC.

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

16,226

15,611

Share-based compensation

3,379

3,511

Store closing charges

172

37

Impairment of property and other assets

640

-

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

236

10

Deferred income taxes

4,199

978

Tax expense from equity issuances

-

(196

)

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

-

(471

)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Inventories

44,867

13,917

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(1,951

)

(2,339

)

Other assets

(566

)

(763

)

Accounts payable

(26,800

)

(7,763

)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

(3,757

)

(1,207

)

Other liabilities

(2,409

)

14,949

Net cash provided by operating activities

24,943

52,592

Cash flows from investing activities:

Net acquisition of property and equipment

(11,761

)

(23,939

)

Proceeds from cancelled corporate owned life insurance policies

1,445

55

Net cash used in investing activities

(10,316

)

(23,884

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from borrowings

230,094

164,913

Repayments of debt

(241,295

)

(187,713

)

Cash dividends paid

(3,563

)

(6,885

)

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

-

471

Proceeds from exercise of stock options and other

328

1,439

Repurchase of common stock

(218

)

(998

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(14,654

)

(28,773

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(27

)

(65

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

10,604

11,830

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

10,577

$

11,765

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted EBITDA: EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, we present EBITDA in this release because we consider it to be an important supplemental measure of our performance and because it is frequently used by analysts, investors and others to evaluate the performance of companies. EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies. EBITDA should be used as a supplement to results of operations and cash flows as reported under GAAP and should not be considered to be a more meaningful measure than, or an alternative to, measures of operating performance as determined in accordance with GAAP.

The following table shows the Company's reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA which are considered Non-GAAP financial measures. Adjustments to EBITDA include non-cash items (impairment charges), significant non-recurring unusual items (legal settlements) and new stores investments (pre-opening costs).

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Always Free Returns In-Store

Take the worry out of your purchase. All items purchased online can be returned in store within 60 days of purchase free of charge. For all other questions about returns, or instructions on how to return your product using our Hassle Free Return Label or via the USPS, UPS or FedEx, view our full Return Policy.